TURKISH
CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW
C
O N T E N T S
No. 139/15 25-27.07.2015
1.Akıncı met with Mogherini
2. Burcu on the negotiations: Too early to talk about
land and property
3. CTP-UBP “coalition government” gets a confidence
vote
4.
Tatar criticizes the “government programme” regarding the Cyprus issue
5.
The number of Turkish origin students in the occupied area of the Republic of
Cyprus is increased
6. Robot
football team of illegal YDU participated in the 11th championship
organized by FIFA in China
8. Turkey launches new air strikes and calls for a
NATO extraordinary meeting;PKK threats to end ceasefire
9.Erdogan held a phone conversation with Putin:
“Turkey is determined to fight against ISIS, PKK”
10. Merkel and Mongerini urged Turkey to keep the
Kurdish peace process alive
1.Akıncı met with Mogherini
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasi (25.07.15)
reported that Turkish Cypriot leader
Mustafa Akıncı announced that he held a very fruitful meeting with the High
Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini.
In a
short statement after his meeting with Mogherini, Akinci said that he had found
the opportunity to evaluate the latest stage reached on the Cyprus problem and
that Mogherini had reaffirmed the EU’s continuing support to the Cyprus
negotiations process.
“The EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was
also in the island and now Ms. Mogherini is here and the dialogue they are
establishing with the Turkish Cypriot side is very important and we hope that
it will continue”, Akinci also added.
2. Burcu
on the negotiations: Too early to talk about land and property
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.07.15)
reports that BarisBurcu, the spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa
Akinci, evaluated the statements of the Spokesman of the government of the Republic
of Cyprus, NicosChristodoulides and stated that is yet too early to talk about
land and property issues.
Speaking to illegal Bayrak, Burcu stated that both
sides agree that there is progress on the negotiations, however is too early to
speak about progress on the chapters of land and property; however, he said the
committees which work on the issue managed to have a wide progress. He reminded
that there are three elements on the property issue: Determine the criteria of
the areas which will be regulated in the property issue, the percentile and the
names of the villages. As he said, for the first element the efforts will be
intensified but as regards the other two, it will be discussed later.
Asked to comment on Christodoulides’ statements that
the name of the new state has not been discussed yet and no decision on this
respect was taken, Burcu said that
Akinci replied on a question on the issue and said that the name “Union of a
Federal Cyprus” was one of the possible names for the new state after a
solution.
Also commenting on Eide’s statements that it is
important the two sides in Cyprus to be conscious that the solution but be a
European solution, Burcustated that the Common Statement of February 11,
determines that the solution should be
based on bi-zonallity, bi-communality and political equality. “We said that we
accept every European solution which will not be against these principles”, he
stated.
(CS)
3. CTP-UBP
“coalition government” gets a confidence vote
Turkish Cypriot daily KibrisPostasionline newspaper
(27.07.15) reports that the “coalition government” established by the
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the National Unity Party (UBP) received a “vote
of confidence” during an extraordinary session of the “assembly” that took
place this morning in the breakaway regime.
According to the paper, 35“deputies” voted in favor of
the new “council of ministers” giving the self-styled government the necessary
vote of confidence. The paper also reports that 9 “deputies” voted against and
6 “deputies” did not participated in the session.
Turkish Cypriot daily HalkinSesi (26.07.15) reports
that on Saturday the self-styled assembly convened for 12 hours to discuss the
CTP-UBP “government program” and adds that the efforts for forming a
“government” were received with strong criticism by the opposition.
The paper writes that SerdarDenktas, the leader of the
Democratic Party stated that the new government is “an evil government” and
accused the “Turkish embassy” in the occupied part of Lefkosia of being
directly involved in the establishment of the new “government”.
On his part, self-styled deputy with the Social
Democracy Party (TDP) Mehmet Cakici stated that CTP - UBP were accusing each
other yesterday and today are establishing a “government”. Cekici stated that
before discussing the program of the “government” they should discuss the way
the “government” was established and added that it was established with the
assistance of Turkey.
(CS)
4.
Tatar criticizes the “government programme” regarding the Cyprus issue
Turkish
Cypriot daily Kibris (25.07.15) reported that the self-styled deputy of the
National Unity Party (UBP) and candidate for the party leadership Ersin Tatar
criticized the programme of the “coalition government”, adding that the
articles on the Cyprus issue are insufficient and UBP’s sensitivities were not
taken into consideration.
Noting
that one of the most important issues in the “government programme” is the
negotiation process for the Cyprus problem, Tatar said that only the position
of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) was adopted, which is the single
sovereignty and single representation. He explained that important issues like
the continuation of Turkey’s guarantees, the Turkish settlers who came in the
occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus after 1974, the property issue and the
timetable for the talks are not covered in the programme.
(DPs)
5.
The number of Turkish origin students in the occupied area of the Republic
of Cyprus is increased
Turkish
Cypriot daily HalkinSesi (25.07.15) reports that the results of the
universities entrance exams in Turkey have been announced and 10 thousands 759
of Turkish origin students have gained a position in the illegal universities
in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.
The
paper published the following comparison table with the number of students who
enrolled in the illegal universities in 2014 and 2015:
2014 2015
“YDU”
(“Near East University”): 1854 “YDU”:2955
“DAU”
(“East Mediterranean University”):2029
“DAU”:2110
“GAU”
(“Girne American University”):1549
“GAU”:1893
“UKU”
(“International Cyprus University”): 1233
“UKU”:1788
“LAU”
(“Lefke European University”):1145 “LAU”:1739
“GU”
(“Keryneia University”):00 “GU”:98
“LIU”
(Nicosia British University”):00 “LIU”:61
“KSBU”
(Cyprus Social Science university”):00
“KSBU”:60
“AKU”
(“Mediterranean Karpasia University”): 00
“AKU”:36
(DPs)
6. Robot
football team of illegal YDU participated in the 11th championship
organized by FIFA in China
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.07.15)
reports that illegal Near East University (YDU) participated in the “2015 Robot
Football championship” which was organized by FIFA in China, between 17-23 of
July.
According to the paper, 18 universities participated
in the championship and illegal YDU team ranked 11th.
Speaking to the paper, AhmetCagman, the director of
the innovation center of YDU stated that next year’s championship will be held
in Germany and efforts are exerted so that the 2017 championship to be held in
the “TRNC”.
(CS)
7. Famous
singer Sean Paul participated in a concert at occupied AgiosEpiktitos village
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (27.07.15)
reports that the Jamaican rapper and reggae singer Sean Paul arrived yesterday
in the breakaway regime using the illegal Tymbou airport.
Paul participated in a concert at the Cornaro Beach
Club, in occupied AgiosEpiktitos village.
The paper writes that despite the efforts exerted by
many Greek Cypriot circles to prevent the artist to arrive in the breakaway
regime, Paul visited the “TRNC” and gave the concert as it was planned.
(CS)
8.Turkey launches new air strikes and calls for a
NATO extraordinary meeting;PKK threats to end ceasefire
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (27.07.15) reports
that the Turkish military has launched on July 26new air strikes on Kurdish
militants in northern Iraq, as Ankara invoked an article of NATO to call a
meeting of the military alliance over its campaign against the Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Turkey has launched a two-pronged
"anti-terror" cross-border offensive against ISIL jihadists and PKK
militants after a wave of violence in the country, pounding their positions with
air strikes and artillery.
Protests meanwhile raged in a flashpoint district of
Istanbul after raids against suspected militants earlier in the week, leaving
one policeman dead.
The Turkish army earlier on July 26 blamed PKK
militants for a deadly car bomb attack that killed two of its soldiers in the
Kurdish-dominated southeast, as a fragile truce risked collapsing.
Ankara started its campaign on July 24 against ISIL
targets in Syria but then expanded it to PKK rebels in neighboring northern
Iraq who are themselves bitterly opposed to the jihadists.
Meanwhile the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that Turkey,
NATO’s only majority Muslim member, called a meeting of Ambassadors of NATO
states on Tuesday for talks on the violence and its military operations.
"NATO allies follow developments very closely and
stand in solidarity with Turkey", NATO said in another statement.
Ankara invoked a clause from NATO’s founding treaty
that allows any member to request a meeting of all 28 NATO Ambassadors
"whenever, in the opinion of any of them, their territorial integrity,
political independence or security is threatened."
The Article 4 of the Washington Treaty invoked by Turkey
has been employed only rarely and usually by Ankara -- it was invoked by Turkey
also in 2003 over the Iraq war, in 2012 for the Syria war and by Poland in 2014
over the Ukraine crisis.
Meanwhile, the tensions across the country are high,
with police routinely using water cannons to disperse nightly protests in
Istanbul and other cities denouncing ISIL and the government’s policies on
Syria.
Turkish police and protesters on July 26 engaged in
new clashes in the flashpoint Istanbul district of Gazi, where a leftist
activist was killed during police raids earlier this week, leaving one
policeman dead.
Turkish security forces have since Friday rounded up
at least 851 suspected members of ISIL, the PKK and the Marxist Revolutionary
People’s Liberation Party Front (DHKP-C) across the country on the grounds that
they pose a threat to the state, the Anatolia news agency said.
Moreover, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has said
that the ceasefire between it and the Turkish government has “lost its meaning”
after the Turkish army’s airstrikes against PKK camps in northern Iraq.
“The ceasefire has lost its meaning with the intense
air bombardments that have been carried out,” said a statement by the People’s
Defense Forces (HPG), the military wing of the PKK.
In addition, Turkish daily Sabah (25.07.15-online in
English) reported that the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has
slammed recent operations targeting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its
affiliates, arguing that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) plans to
“set the country on fire” to secure a landslide victory in a possible snap
election.
“It is a plan to set the country on fire, in order for
the government to secure a single-party government in a snap election, by
creating a militaristic and nationalist climate -- while creating an impression
as if it is conducting a comprehensive fight against terrorism,” a statement
from the HDP said on Saturday.
“Military assaults and bombings, political operations
and pressure should be stopped immediately. We have no problem that cannot be
solved through negotiation,” the statement added.
(…)
9.Erdogan held a phone conversation with Putin:
“Turkey is determined to fight against ISIS, PKK”
Turkish daily Sabah (27.07.15-online in English)
reports that Turkish President
RecepTayyipErdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin held phone talks on
Sunday in which the Turkish leader expressed his determination in the fight
against ISIS (the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham) and the
PKK.
Discussing the growing terrorism problem in the
region, the two Presidents also evaluated Turkey's recent operations.
Erdogan
described ISIS as "a virus spreading all across the region" and
stated that Turkey would fight against all terror organizations to the very
end.
Reminding
that Turkey has informed the UN Security Council, in light of article 51 of the
UN Charter, about the steps taken to fight against ISIS, Erdogan called on the
international community to make an effort to establish a transitional
government fully-supported by the public.
He
also stressed that the fight against the PKK would continue unless the terror
group brings an end to its terror attacks in the country.
Stating that cooperation in combatting terrorism was
essential, the Russian President also conveyed condolences to the families of
Turkish victims killed in the recent terror attacks.
The Presidential
sources also stated that Erdogan and Putin agreed to hold a bilateral meeting
in November's G-20 Summit in Antalya, while also expressing the wish to
cooperate closely on regional issues.
Erdogan later on Sunday also had a separate phone
conversation with Iraqi President FuadMasum at the request of Iraq,
presidential sources said.
In the 30 minute conversation, the Iraqi President
also gave his condolences to the families of Turkish victims killed in the
recent terror attacks.
Masum agreed with Erdogan's determined manner in the
fight against terrorism and said that the violence the PKK instigates badly affects
peace in the region.
(…)
10.Merkel and Mongerini urged Turkey to keep the
Kurdish peace process alive
Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (26.07.15) reported that the German Chancellor Angela Merkel
urged on July 26 the Turkish Prime Minister AhmetDavutoglu to stick with the
Kurdish peace process despite escalating violence.
Merkel
assured Davutoglu of the "solidarity and support of Germany in the fight
against terrorism" but also recalled "the principle of
proportionality in the implementation of necessary measures".
The
Chancellor appealed to the Turkish Premier "not to give up the peace
process with the Kurds but to continue it despite all the difficulties," Merkel's spokesman Georg Streiter said in a
statement.
(…)
Merkel's office said that Davutoglu had informed her
of "the actions of the Turkish government in the fight against terrorism
following the attack in Suruc and other terrorist attacks against Turkish
security forces."
(…)
Merkel and Davutoglu also agreed on a close
cooperation between their Foreign and Defense Ministries in the battle against
jihadists, and between their Interior Ministers on handling the refugee crisis
sparked by conflict in Syria and Iraq, Streiter said.
Also, the EU’s
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President
of the Commission, Federica Mogherini, voiced support for Turkey’s ongoing
operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria and
outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) camps in Iraq, while emphasizing the
utmost need for keeping the Kurdish peace process alive.
Speaking
over the phone with Turkish Foreign Minister MevlutCavusoglu on July 25,
Mogherini offered the EU’s condolences to the Turkish government and the
families of the victims in Suruv and of other recent attacks against police and
military officers.
Mogherini
reaffirmed support for Turkey’s efforts to step up on ISIL and fight any form
of terrorism.
“At the same time, Federica Mogherini underlined the
fundamental importance of keeping the settlement process with Kurdish people
alive and on track. Terrorist groups must not spoil the process and the
cease-fire must be preserved. Any action taken should avoid the risk of
endangering the cease-fire and the Kurdish peace process that remains the best
opportunity in a generation to solve a conflict that has claimed far too many
lives. The Turkish government has shown in recent year’s courage, firm
intention and wisdom in bringing forward a political process that is the only
means of reaching a stable solution to the conflict, for the sake of all the
Turkish people. The EU will keep supporting the government on this path,” Mogherini
said.
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